The Association of Retired Police Officers of Nigeria (ARPON) said the federal government was taking steps to address challenges connected to the police pensions, the association appealed to its members not to embark on any protest.
The President, ARPON, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Fidelis Oyakhilome (rtd), in a statement made available to newsmen yesterday in Abuja, said it has come to the knowledge of the association that some police retirees were planning to go on public protest in some parts of the country over pension matters.
Oyakhilome said the association has been working with various stakeholders including the incumbent IGP towards securing improved pension benefits for Police retirees both under the Defined Benefits Scheme (DBS) and the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).
The statement reads in part:
“It is worthy of note that the inspector-general of police, not too long ago, announced the Presidential approval for the Police to exit from the Contributory Pension Scheme.
“In view of the foregoing, ARPON wishes to state that as Senior Citizens and law-abiding Nigerians, the association does not support any public protest or demonstration by any group of police retirees. This is especially because of the challenging security situation in the country as hoodlums might cash in on such to cause havoc. We appeal to any group planning to embark on any protest to shelve the idea for now.”
He recalled that at the association’s AGM held on 13 November, 2019 an ad-hoc committee was set up to look at all outstanding issues and recommend ways/means of resolving them.
“Appropriate recommendations have since therefore been made by ARPON to the appropriate authorities including the Inspector General of Police, PENCOM and the Presidency.
“ARPON, therefore, appeals for calm while all the outstanding issues are being resolved by the federal government,” Oyakhilome added.
